FV-4005 183MM ON CENTURION HULL

Description

FV-4005 Stage II - For a short time in the storied history of the Centurion Main Battle Tank (MBT), a heavily armed self-propelled gun (SPG) variant was entertained as the FV4005 "Stage 2". This vehicle utilized the existing chassis and hull superstructure of the Centurion MBT mated to a fully-enclosed, 360-degree traversing turret housing a 183mm (7.2") Howitzer main gun (the BL 7.2-inch field howitzer). An earlier attempt saw the Centurion up-gunned with the 183mm weapon (with automatic loader) in a limited-traverse mounting sans the turret and this became the FV4005 "Stage 1" - both forms were related to the earlier FV4004 "Conway" which attempted to up-gun the Centurion with a turreted 120mm L1 weapon to serve while the FV214 "Conquerer" heavy tank was still being developed. The FV4005 program began in 1951 with development stemming into 1955. However, the initiative fell to naught and was ended in 1957. Turret was dismounted from a chassie. A sole example of the FV4005 Stage 2 went on to be preserved outdoors on the grounds of the famous Bovington Tank Museum in England (original turret mounted on a Mk.8 chassie.) (Scale : 1/72e)